September 2007 Newsletter

Dear Friends … How very much aware we are of the faithfulness of our God … and the dependence we have on your faithfulness in prayers for us and the work!

Signs of fall are here in the North Country … red or orange leaves on a tree… the coolness of the night air… less traffic from retreating vacationers …

Our busy summer started out with Barb’s trip to Little Rock, AR, for the birth of Judy’s twin boys, and a week later to Lynchburg, VA, when Deb had her gall bladder surgery (no picture of the gall bladder!).

(Brady John and Carson James at 3 weeks)

We were involved in several Vacation Bible School programs which had the“Rescue Zone” theme. Locally, in Chestertown at Faith Bible Church, Pastor Paul Schultz, Ray spoke at Closing Night … then we went to Willingboro, NJ, at First Baptist Church, Pastor Gary Tum Suden, for the last 2 days of their VBS and the Sunday Services. Ray asked Bob Rice, the Port Authority officer who was saved during the WTC 911 tragedy, to come and give his testimony in the evening. Then, Pastor Mark Cohen, East Baptist Church in Rochester, NY, called and told us that we were the “Missionaries” of their VBS!

We were at River of Life Bible Camp, in Mayfield, Maine, August 6th through 10th, teaching at teen camp with a really great group of teens and staff! CEF of Maine directed the camp this year and all on Director Barney Daigle’s staff did a super job, including a “veteran” Bible teacher from North Carolina!

August 5th, before camp started, Ray spoke the at Passadumkeag Baptist Church, Passadumkeag Maine (pray for them as they are without a pastor – our friends, Sandy and Pastor Jack Caron, and family, are now on staff at New Brunswick Bible Institute). Following camp, the 12th, we stopped by Belgrade Bible Church, Pastor Larry Wiles, to give a report on the work.

We arrived home the 28th from Camp Sankanac, near Pottstown, PA, and 3 days at BCM International’s Annual Conference. The morning of the 26th, we gave a report at Hope Community Church, in Gilbertsville, PA, Pastor Rick Knarr.

It seems like everywhere we went, the Lord gave us opportunities to work with our law enforcement “family” … ME, NJ, PA, and NY! At camp, Ray “just happened” to be where a group of about 10 officers were about to raid a drug “farm” – hidden in a wooded area. Several of the officers remembered Ray from speaking at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy years before. Several others were at our David’s Memorial Service, or involved in the crime scene in Lewiston back in 1988. It’s rewarding to know that David did not die “in vain in the Lord” – we constantly see opportunities to present Christ to those in need of a loving Saviour and Friend … a “Backup”Who will never leave!

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain

in the Lord.”

Where do we go from here? Ray is speaking at FaithBaptistChurch in Warrensburg, Pastor Lee Call, on September 2nd. The 7ththrough the 9th, we will be at CLEO – Christian Law Enforcement Officers’ – Annual Family Retreat, at Living waters Bible Conference, in Danforth, Maine … it’s a great time where about 70 – 90 officers and families get together for fellowship and the Word! We have been there for the past 14 years, and look forward to the friendships!

September 22nd, Amy and Brian Thompson host a Law Enforcement Officers’ Fellowship at the Genesee Country Church, inOakfield, NY – a fabulous time of fellowship they’ve been doing for a number of years! And then we head on to Wappingers Falls, NY, and 2 days of Bible teaching, the 24th and 25th, at the NY IFCA Regional meetings, hosted by Grace Bible Church, Pastor Scott Harris, where we will have opportunity to set up the “Only One Son” display and literature table.

October? We’ll be well on our way the end of September so that we can be involved at the COPS (Concerns Of Police Survivors) Parents’ Retreat, being held this year for the first time in Little Rock, Arkansas! Isn’t that something?! The Lord is so good to us … we’ll get to see our daughter Judy’s family, including the twins, who’ll be 3 months old by then! Plus, as an added bonus, we’ll get to stay with daughter Deb and family in Lynchburg, VA, on the trip BOTH ways!!! No one can orchestrate it any better than the Lord! On our trips to Maine, we usually see and stay with daughter Ginny and family, in Rumford. Now, all that’s remaining is to have the Lord work out our seeing daughter BethAnne and boys down in Florida – and things are already in the working for a trip sometime in the “colder” weather!

This has been a longer-than-usual epistle … possibly because we haven’t been able to get one out sooner … but we just wanted you to know that we deeply appreciate your faithfulness in love and prayer, as well as financial support!